The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-09-10
TWO WILD MEN
Found on Hermit Island, Chatta-
hoochee River.
Theories ms to Their Presence There
Their Mode OF Living and the Manner
of Their Capture.

ATLANTA, GA, Sept 4.-The Columbus
Enqui~r-Snn OF to-day prints in its news
columns remarkable story of the dis
covery on Hermit Island, in the Chatta-
hootche river, two strange human beings,
who are believed to have been fugitive
slaves. Mr.. l.. G. Moultrie and the writer,
says the Enquirer Sun, took guns and went
down in some woods opposite the island
squirrel shooting. After q brief rest
we set out to explore the island.
All around the island near the
shore was a rocky cliff, with here
and there n rough cedar clinging
in the crevices of the rocks, from whose
branches hung the long white river moss.
In the interior the surface sank into low,
fiat land, covered with tall white oaks and
occasional patches of low shrubbery. In
these trees we found our game. One shot
from my companions gun brought n
squirrel to the ground, Immediately fol-
lowed by two black, naked objects bear
ing the outward sembancc of human
beings, they ran, bent low, at almost
lightning speed and disappeared over
the little mound some three hundred
yards away. In an hour we had been
to camp, collected our little band of half
oo"Sh' Nioh anu Jugs VIC
the half starved naked savages. They re-
treated to their den under a prctruding
rock, and when surrounded by men and
dogs surrendered, with no resistance
They fell upon their faces and whined
piteously, as If to beg for mercy, but ut
terng no word that was Ineligible. In
deed, no word from them has yet
been understood except the word ''dog,"
which they pronounce with distinct
ness. Their fear Of the dog almost APP
proaches madness. They converse to-.
gether in monosyllables of an unknown
tongue. Their den was under ledge of
rock and was sheltered from wind and
rain. No indication of fire was seen in or
about the place. The only sign Of habita-
tion was pile of straw, leaves and moss
in the den, and bones of varmints scattered
about. 1t is supposed that the meat was
eaten raw. The men were perfectly nude,
except thin coat of hair, which nature
has furnished since their banishmcnt
They stand and walk half bent, as if creep
ing to their prey. The larger one of them
is tall and muscular. He seems about
forty-five or fifty years old. The other is
small, thin and bony, and has doubtless
reached his three-score and ten. The nails
and teeth of both have grown long and
hooked, so that they find no difficulty in
tearing the flesh from carcass With
their long and brawny arms they can
hurl stone with as much accuracy as the
rifieman shoots his rifle. There is but one
theory as to why this barbarsm exists on
Hermit Island, and that is that the negroes.
during the time of slavery, sought this
as place of refuge from their masters
That they never left the Island since their
first advent is almost certain, since they
would in such a case have provided them
selves with fire and means to obtain food
But how did they get there! is
question unanswered. Certainly not rs
we did, for the fall is receding, and has
been in contact with the tunnel only a few
years, while these negroes have been on
the island not less than twenty-five years
No effort was ever made by white men tt
reach tho place. On account of its rocky
and barren appearance it was not sup
posed to be tillable.